KR100873178B1 - A device and method using universal serial bus to prevent computer from theft - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for preventing theft of a computer according to the present invention include: a port power detector for detecting a port power by connecting to a predetermined port existing on a motherboard of a computer; A motion sensor unit for sensing a predetermined motion occurring in the computer main body; A controller configured to determine whether to attempt theft based on detection signals of the port power detector and the motion detector; A warning generator for generating a warning sound when it is determined that the control unit attempts theft; And a power supply unit supplying power to the port power detection unit, the motion detection sensor unit, the control unit, and the warning generation unit.

Description

A DEVICE AND METHOD USING UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS TO PREVENT COMPUTER FROM THEFT}

1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a computer anti-theft device according to the present invention.

2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the computer theft prevention method according to the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

10; Port power detector 11; connector

20; A motion detection sensor unit 30; Control

40; An alarm generating unit 50; Power supply

The present invention relates to a computer anti-theft device and method, and more particularly, to a technology for preventing theft of a computer by recognizing the case that the power is cut off by detecting power when connected to the USB port of the computer. .

Computers are used in many parts of everyday life. Computers are used for business purposes at work, and as multimedia devices at home. In particular, with the high performance of the computer, the computer can perform various functions. Computers can process various programs and information, from various business programs to various games, movies, movies, and music.

As the use of computers has been diversified, personal computer (PC) rooms have emerged. A PC room is a place where customers can use a computer for a certain amount of time for a fee. Customers can use various programs, games, and the Internet installed in computers in PC rooms. Computers installed in the PC room are usually the mainstream high-performance computer. Computers in a PC room have high performance and high specifications in order to meet all such requirements because the specifications of the computer are different for each game or program.

As computers in PC rooms become high performance and high specification, computer theft accidents in PC rooms are increasing. Not only PC rooms, but also many computers are used to keep the computer in a kind of case to prevent theft of the computer.

However, this method is inconvenient to use when the customer wants to turn on or off the computer, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient to use the CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory). In addition, when the case of the computer is fixed when the computer is moving, there is a disadvantage that the movement of the case is impossible.

In addition, there is a problem that the administrator of the computer cannot recognize this when the parts inside the computer are stolen by damaging a specific part of the case.

An object of the present invention for solving such a problem is to be provided inside or outside the computer to detect the power applied to the port of the computer, and to prevent theft of the computer using an additional motion detection sensor or the like.

Computer anti-theft device for achieving the above object, the port power detection unit for detecting the port power by connecting to a predetermined port existing on the motherboard (mother board) of the computer; A motion sensor unit for sensing a predetermined motion occurring in the computer main body; A controller configured to determine whether to attempt theft based on detection signals of the port power detector and the motion detector; A warning generator for generating a warning sound when it is determined that the control unit attempts theft; And a power supply unit supplying power to the port power detection unit, the motion detection sensor unit, the control unit, and the warning generation unit.

Computer anti-theft method for achieving the above object, the first step of detecting the power supplied to the port power detection unit attached to the inside or outside of the computer and connected to the port of the computer motherboard (mother board); A second step of monitoring, by the motion detecting sensor, whether a predetermined motion occurs in the computer main body; A third step of judging a theft attempt when detecting a disconnection of port power or occurrence of the predetermined operation in a first step or a second step; And a fourth step of performing an anti-theft operation when it is determined in the third step that the theft attempt is made.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention determines whether the main body is disconnected by using power applied to various ports existing in the computer main body as a theft attempt, or when a predetermined operation occurs in the main body by using a motion detection sensor. It is. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a USB (Universal Serial Bus, USB) port present in the computer main body will be described as an example.

USB is a bus that is used to exchange information between a computer and other equipment or a specific device and communicates using four pins. One pair of pins is used to supply power between USB devices. The USB port is present on the motherboard of the computer, and the power is always applied to the USB port while power is applied to the motherboard of the computer. That is, even when the computer is in an off state, power is always applied to the USB port as long as the power line for supplying power to the computer body is connected and electricity is supplied.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to confirm that the power is applied to the USB port to perform the anti-theft operation when the intrusion is confirmed by the sensor is not applied or additionally provided.

1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a computer anti-theft device according to the present invention.

The anti-theft device includes a port power detector 10, a motion sensor 20, a controller 30, an alert generator 40, and a power supply 50.

The port power detector 10 is connected to a USB port of a computer and detects power applied to the USB port. The computer's motherboard has a USB port. It is usually present inside and outside the computer. The USB port has four pins, and one pair is used for power. Of the pair of pins associated with the power source, one pin supplies power and one pin provides ground. The port power detector 10 detects the power supplied to the power pin of the USB port.

The port power detector 10 includes a connector 11 for connecting to a USB port of a computer motherboard.

The connector 11 may be provided in the port power detector 10 or may be provided inside or outside the computer anti-theft device to connect to the motherboard of the computer. The shape of the connector 11 is due to the securing of the installation space and the position of other motion detection sensors when the anti-theft device is installed in the interior of the computer.

In addition to the port power detector 10, the motion sensor 20 may include a sensor mounted to prevent theft of the computer. The motion detection sensor unit 20 includes a sensor for detecting a separate motion, and various sensors may be used according to the intention of the person skilled in the art. For example, an infrared sensor capable of capturing motion inside the computer, a sensor for detecting the opening of the computer main body, or a sensor for recognizing the tilt of the computer main body is used.

In some cases, internal components may be stealed by disassembling the outer surface of the computer while power is applied to the computer main body. In this case, since the port power detection unit 10 cannot recognize, the motion detection sensor is further used. Motion sensors can also be installed inside or outside the computer antitheft device, and can be mounted outside the computer body as needed.

The control unit 30 induces an anti-theft operation such as a warning when a computer or an intrusion attempt is confirmed through the port power detection unit 10 or the motion detection sensor unit 20. If the power is not detected in the port power detector 10 or the sensor provided in the motion sensor 20 reports an abnormality, the controller 30 transmits it to the warning generator 40 to take measures for theft. Induce.

The warning generator 40 serves to perform the anti-theft operation by the controller 30. The warning generator 40 may be implemented to generate a warning sound using a speaker, but may be modified and operated in various forms according to the intention of the person skilled in the art. For example, there is a management server that manages the theft of a computer, and the alert generation unit 40 of the computer that is theft fear is wirelessly connected to the management server. The alert generation unit 40 reports that a theft concern situation has occurred wirelessly to the management server when theft concern situation occurs, and the management server takes an action such as sending an administrator to the location of the corresponding computer.

In addition, when a management camera is installed near a computer that is likely to be stolen, the management server may be implemented in the form of taking an operation such as monitoring the computer. Such various implementations can be achieved by notifying the warning generation unit 40 of the occurrence of a stolen situation, rather than simply generating a warning when a stolen state of concern occurs. Such various forms of implementations may vary according to implementation intents of those skilled in the art.

The power supply unit 50 is a device for operating by supplying power to the computer anti-theft device. To this end, the power supply unit 50 includes a kind of battery.

2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the computer theft prevention method according to the present invention.

The port power detection unit 10 and the motion detection sensor unit 20 of the computer anti-theft device operate to execute the anti-theft function of the computer (S2).

The port power detector 10 is connected to the motherboard of the computer using the connector 11. The connector 11 transfers the power applied from the motherboard to the USB port to the port power detector 10. The port power detector 10 checks whether a voltage is applied to the power pin of the connector 11.

The port power detector 10 recognizes a state in which power is applied to a pair of pins supplying power from the USB port as a normal state.

The motion sensor 20 detects a theft attempt by a computer using the provided motion sensor. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by applying an infrared sensor for detecting a motion to the motion detection sensor unit 20 as an example.

The motion detection sensor unit 20 operates the infrared sensor provided, and the infrared sensor checks the movement inside the computer. Under normal conditions, no movement occurs inside the computer. Typically, large movements cannot occur inside the computer body. Although the cooling fan (fan) of the central processing unit is moving, such a device is small, and because only the fan (fan) rotates is not regarded as a large movement.

Therefore, the motion detection sensor unit 20 recognizes a situation in which a motion is captured by the infrared sensor as an attempt to steal.

When the port power detection unit 10 and the motion detection sensor unit 20 operate in step S2, the port power detection unit 10 determines whether power supplied to the USB port is disconnected (S4). Since power is continuously supplied to the USB port while the computer's motherboard is powered up, power is not supplied to the USB port if the power is turned off to steal the computer. Therefore, it can be determined that the power is cut off from the USB port as a theft attempt.

In the case where the power disconnection is not detected in step S4 (No), it is determined whether an abnormality of the motion detection sensor unit 20 occurs (S6). Infrared sensors work in response to movement within the computer body. Infrared sensors are aware of movements such as the hand approaching to steal computer components. The infrared sensor can be implemented in various forms according to the intention of the skilled person. The infrared sensor can be realized in the form of recognizing the difference between the ambient temperature and in the form of detecting the change of the reflected infrared ray by irradiating the infrared ray and receiving the reflected infrared ray.

In addition, a sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the computer body may be used instead of the infrared sensor. The sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the computer body may use a sensor or the like in which a part of the sensor is attached to the same part as the lid of the main body and recognizes when a part of the sensor attached to the lid is moved.

Such a motion detection sensor unit 20 can be used in a variety of sensors according to the implementation intention of those skilled in the art, can be implemented to prevent theft attempts of various forms by configuring the sensor redundantly.

If the abnormality is not confirmed in the motion detection sensor unit 20 in step S6 (No), bypassing the step S2 to check the power and motion detection sensor continuously supplied to the USB port.

When disconnection of the USB power is detected in step S4 or when an abnormality is confirmed in the motion detection sensor unit 20 in step S6, the controller 30 notifies the alarm generating unit 40 of the abnormality occurrence (S8). The controller 30 may be implemented in various forms. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the port power detection unit 10 and the motion detection sensor unit 20 generates a voltage when an abnormality occurs, and the control unit 30 is the port power detection unit 10 or the motion detection sensor unit 20. When the voltage is applied to the implementation in the form that delivers this to the warning generator 40 will be described as an example.

If at least one of the port power detector 10 or the motion detection sensor 20 is recognized as abnormal, the controller 30 determines that this is an abnormal situation and notifies the warning generator 40 (S8).

The warning generator 40 may be implemented in various forms, but may be implemented in an operation or non-operation according to application of a predetermined voltage. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the warning generating unit 40, it will be described as an example that the warning generating unit 40 operates to generate a warning sound.

When the abnormality is notified to the warning generating unit 40 (S8), the warning generating unit 40 generates a warning sound (S10). The warning generator 40 internally generates a warning sound using a speaker or a buzzer. At this time, the warning generation unit 40 may store a comment called "theft occurrence" and the like and output the stored comment as a warning sound.

In addition, the alert generation unit 40 may be implemented as a kind of module to communicate with a kind of anti-theft management server. When the alert generator 40 is implemented as a module for communicating with a kind of management server, it may be implemented by wire or wireless. In such an embodiment of the alert generator 40, a wireless communication scheme such as Bluetooth or Wibro may be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power supply unit 50 may be connected in various forms according to the intention of the skilled person. The power supply unit 50 supplies power directly to the port power detection unit 10, the motion detection sensor unit 20, the control unit 30, and the warning generation unit 40, or to another device using the control unit 30. It can be implemented in the form of supplying power.

In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the warning generating unit 40 is implemented in the form of generating a warning sound, it is possible to implement to further include a controller for adjusting the volume of the warning sound, the control unit 30 and the like. The computer anti-theft device may further include a power switch for controlling the power of the anti-theft device.

In addition to the power switch of the anti-theft device, a kind of delay element for delaying the operation of the anti-theft device may be further provided. The anti-theft device can be installed inside the computer. If the computer is installed inside the computer, it is installed while the main body of the computer is open. Therefore, in such a case, the warning sound may be operated due to an abnormal occurrence simultaneously with the installation of the device. In order to prevent such a malfunction, it may be implemented in the form of delaying the operation for a predetermined time after the power of the device is turned on. In addition, a function of guiding a state in which an operation is delayed may be added according to an implementation intention of those skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the USB port of the computer has been described as an example, but various ports, such as a port of a monitor terminal, a keyboard, or a mouse, may be used in accordance with the intention of the skilled person. Such a port can be used if the port is powered on even when the computer is turned off.

As described above, the computer anti-theft device and method according to the present invention, by checking the power supplied to the port of the computer to detect the power disconnection, using the motion detection sensor to detect theft attempts to the computer to generate an alert Has the effect of preventing theft.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art will be able to various modifications, changes, substitutions and additions through the spirit and scope of the appended claims, such modifications and changes are the following claims It should be seen as belonging to a range.

Claims (14)

A port power detector configured to sense power of the port with respect to a port to which power is applied even when the computer is off; A motion detection sensor unit for detecting a movement inside the computer main body or an open / closed state of the computer main body; A control unit for determining whether to attempt theft based on the detection signal of the port power detection unit and the motion detection sensor unit; And And a warning generator for generating a warning sound when the controller determines that theft is attempted. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit And if the detection signal of the port power detection unit indicates that power to the port is not applied, determine that a theft is generated. The method of claim 2, wherein the control unit indicates that the detection signal of the port power detection unit indicates that power is supplied to the port, but the detection diagram occurs when the detection signal of the motion detection sensor unit is abnormal. Computer security device. The computer anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the motion detection sensor unit is an infrared sensor. The method of claim 1, wherein the port, And a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port present in the computer. The method of claim 1, The computer antitheft device further includes a delay element for delaying the start of the entire operation for a predetermined time to prevent the alarm from occurring while the computer antitheft device is mounted inside the computer main body. Anti-theft device. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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